WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Following the recent firing of the West Palm Beach police chief, WPTV has learned that seven officers are now on administrative leave.
According to the city, the officers were put on leave concerning allegations of overtime/financial misconduct.
When Mayor Keith James announced the firing of Police Chief Frank Adderley on Oct. 1, the mayor mentioned allegations of "numerous financial improprieties within the department."
WATCH BELOW: West Palm Beach mayor announces firing of police chief
Adderley has since denied these claims.
"At no point during my tenure did I participate in, condone, or turn a blind eye to any financial misconduct," Adderley said in a statement to WPTV on Oct. 4.
James asked the newly hired deputy chief of police to review operating procedures for managing and monitoring overtime and review officer extra duty detail assignments. Both are listed as "top priorities" in an offer letter WPTV reporter Ethan Stein received after a public records request.
Documents that WPTV gathered show internal city auditors focused on police overtime in 2020 and 2022.
According to the latest report, 27% of officers had numerous instances where they logged work hours for multiple locations simultaneously. It said this occurred because third-party vendors like an event center can pay officers directly for hours worked.
Auditors said systems weren’t communicating, making it difficult to flag overlapping hours.
Deputy Chief Tony Shearer, a retired FBI agent, was hired in September 2024. His start date at the department was Sept. 30, one day before the mayor fired Adderley as part of a "public safety initiative" announcement.
Other West Palm Beach officers on leave
In a separate incident, another seven West Palm Beach police officers are on administrative leave for their response to a deadly crash in Boynton Beach this past summer where a mother and daughter
died.
The Palm Beach County State Attorney's office told WPTV in August that its Public Corruption Unit is investigating the actions of the West Palm Beach police officers leading up to the wreck.
